Drum



Jan. 3, 1928. 1,654,592

I' L. S. LQCKWOOD.4

DRUM l Filed May 20, 1924 Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

i UNITED STATES PATE NT OFFICE.

LOUIS s. Locxwoon, oF NORTH TONAWANDA. NRW YORK, AssIGNoR To THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER 4MANUrAOTURTNG ooivrPANY,` OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORIQA CORPORATION or NEW YORK. f

DRUM.

Application led May 20,

In orchestral organs and particularly those of motion picture theatres, practically all of the instruments of a full orchestra are represented, excepting the tympani o1' kettle drums. The use of ordinary drums i drum of this character which can be manufactured at much less cost than an ordinary kettle drum. f

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. l is a side elevation of the improved drum associated with automatic means for beating it. Fig. 2 is a face View of the drum on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof, on line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4t is a similar section, on line 4 4, Fig. 2. Similar characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

This invention is based upon the discovery that a comparatively thin metallic drum head provided with suitable stiffenl ing members, such as corrugations, produces a quality of tone peculiar to kettle drums. In the example of the invention illustrated in the. drawings, the hollow body 10 of the drum is cylindrical and preferably provided at both ends with such metallic heads 11. Each head consists of a relatively thin plate of suitable sheet metal such as galvanized iron, having means for giving it the required resonance when beaten with the customary drum sticks l2. These resonance-devices may consist of stiffening or reenforcing ribs or corrugations 13 which are preferably arranged concentrically, as shown in the drawings, but Which may be disposed radially or in any other suitable manner. In its center each drum-head may be formed with a boss or convex portion 14 adapted to be struck by the drum* drum.

1924. serial No. 714,588.

sticks. This boss Withstands the percussion effect and increases the resonance of the drum-head. i

In the preferred construction shown, each metallic head is secured by screws l5 or other means to a Wooden carrying ring 16 fitted in the adjacent end of the drum-body and fastened therein, for instance, by screws I7. f l To prevent rattling Vof the drum heads, 1t is desirable to keep them out of contact With their carrying rings 16 and the drumbody l0 and for this purpose, packing strips. 18 of leather or other appropriate material may be interposed betweenV these parts and the heads, as shown in Fig. 3. These packings also form `sealed joints between said parts.

This improved drum accurately and faithfully reproduces the timbre of the kettle It affords the important advantage over the old drum of being unaffected by meteorological changes and therefore re'- tains its pitch, avoiding the'labor and annoyance of frequently adjusting and tuning the drum and rendering its use especially desirable in orchestral organs. Moreover, its cost is exceedingly small compared with that of kettle drums, effecting a material saving.

Then used in an orchestrion or orchestral organ, the drum-sticks may be operated by a suitable pneumatic action, including mo tor pneumatics 19.

Any suitable means may be employed for tuning the drum. The devices shoivn in the drawings for this purpose, consist of a number of studs or bolts 20 secured to the outer side of the drum-head adjacentV to the impact-boss 14; and each carrying one or more weights in the form of nuts 2l. By applying a greater or less number of nuts to these bolts, the vibrations of the drum-head are reduced or increased and the pitch of the drum is lowered or raised accordingly.

I claim as my invention:

y1. A drum of` the character described, comprising a body and a percussive metallic head applied to the end of said body and having concentric corrugations.

2. A drum of the character described, comprising a body and a percussive metullio head applied to the end of Said body and having a. convex impact portion and corrugations arranged symmetrically between said convex portion and the margin 5 of the head.

3. A drum of the character described, comprising a body and a permissive metallie head applied to the end of said body and having a central convex impact portion and concentric eorrugations suri'ound- 10 ingl said convex portion.

Buii'alo, N. Y., B/Iay 13th, 1924.

LOUIS s. LooKWooD. 

